Did I Make a Huge Mistake?

[FreeTime]

My DH had no desire to stay at SSR. We own at BWV and he likes "action." We have taken several last minute trips since SSR opened and this was the only resort we could get into. Now, it is one of our favorite resorts. It is an easy resort with extended family. Grandpa can easily get something to eat if he is hanging out by the pool for the day. The kids love Community Hall. The pools are nice. Having the car close, is nice. Don't fret, enjoy it!

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks, everyone. My issue is not the resort - I know it will be beautiful. My concern was really the size of the rooms at SSR. After staying at BLT with the huge living area, I thought the living rooms would be similar in size and that we could easily put the pack and plays for the babies there. In looking at the SSR - it doesn't appear it is going to be that easy.

I'm sorry I sounded so negative, lol, I know how wonderful it will be to be in Disney and with family - so it's all good.

My initial reaction when I changed the reservation is that I actually like staying in different places - I guess I just panicked when I realized that, like someone else said here, that I'm making a decision for our whole family and what if I chose wrong!!!

BTW - one of my favorite places to stay is CBR. I love that resort and we're used to the rooms.

Thanks everyone, for making me feel better.

Has anyone wait listed? Has it ever come through? I guess spring break is probably not the best time for that to happen though.

If you are worried about the size of the living area, did you ask about OKW? It has just been renovated and the 2 bedroom units are huge, larger than BLT.

 

[diding]

I agree with the other posts, I think you will be ok, most WDW resorts are good selections and have their own charm.

 

[emacek]

First time I stayed at SS I hated it and vowed never to stay there again. Flash forward 1 year and I stayed a 2nd time and absolutely loved it.

What did not work for me the first time was that 3 of us were at SS and 3 of us at Boardwalk--having a split party. I would always switch resorts to get the 2 BR rather than splitting up between 2 different resorts.

The second time at SS was Thanksgiving week. What I loved about SS is that it felt like my resort was a vacation destination in and of itself. The parks were hectic that week and coming home to SS was peaceful. I liked strolling the grounds, taking the boat to Downtown Disney.

emacek

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

SSR is home for us and we love it. We always request Congress Park. It is such a nice walk to DTD. (it is a little far from the food area, etc).

 

[nocruisecontrol]

Jean - I asked about availability at any vacation club resort for that week and the only availability for the whole week was at SSR.
.
After all the assurances from here, I'm sort of getting over my initial panic. We're wait listed at BLT and I'll probably add something else - maybe OKW as you suggest or AKL - knowing that we probably won't get it but anything is possible.

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Carll'N'ElliesDad : We always drive down for a nearly 2-week stay, so we have our car handy.
We like being able to go off-property on occasion for shopping and meals.We love visiting DTD during "downtime" away from the parks.

Just making a comment on the first two points. It's very easy to park nearby when staying at BLT and go off property. We always have our car when we stay at BLT and parking is very convenient. We also go offiste to Sea World and places like that. Just wanted to mention this to those who might not be familiar with BLT parking.
I will however agree that SSR is very convenient for DD/Marketplace. From some areas you can walk very easily. Other sections would be a good hike.

 

[amberkow]

I stayed at both resorts on my last trip, and they are both very nice, but have a very different vibe. I think the important thing that I learned is that the experience is so different between the two that it's easy to get a let down if you expect the same features at both resorts.

I really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of SSR, and it was very nice to go for a walk without crowds of people everywhere that you went!

 

[Cee]

I can only speak for myself, but no matter where I stay and how much I love it, I always end up missing my SSR. I hope you love it as much as we do.

 

[abeyst]

SSR is fun, and I understand your panic after canceling your room at BLT. You will still have a good time, it's a beautiful resort, and a room with a view of DTD always makes the stay that much more pleasant

But, if I were you, I'd waitlist at OKW. For 4 reasons:
1) You have a much better chance of that coming through than BLT. It seems a lot of reservations at SSR/OKW are booked there and waitlisted for BWV/BCV/BLT, so you have a very good change of getting into OKW.
2) The rooms at OKW are sooo big and nice! The biggest of the DVC resorts.
3) OKW has a relaxed Key West theme, which isn't exactly CBR, but it's much closer to the Caribbean theme than SSR. Have you seen room pics of it?
4) SSR has a 'hotel around home' feel to it. Being from Michigan, it felt a lot like what we'd find at a hotel nearby. We much prefer OKW because it feels like we're some place tropical!

Your resort choice should be based on what will work best for your traveling party. There is great things about each resort, and they're all for different reasons. Regardless of where you end up staying, you will find new and fun things that will make your stay memorable.

 

[thepops]

Also when it comes to space, take a look at the treehouses (might be a good 2nd waitlist). It's the same points as a 2 bedroom !

 

[abeyst]

But with all that being said, there's advantages to staying at SSR, too:

They have a zero entry pool, which the kids and infants love.
They have great pool activities, movies, contests everyday. (If Sundy is still working the community and pool area on her little scooter, you will have a blast! She is the best!)
The arcade and community area always has activities for them (my kids LOVED making the ceramic mugs)

So again, it all comes down to what works best for your family.

 

[WolfpackFan]

We own at VWL and AKV, but have stayed at SSR several times. We really like the resort and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. The proximity to DTD was a real plus for us, plus I'm a walker and liked walking around the resort for exercise (as if walking at the parks wasn't enough ). I also love to play golf and enjoyed watching the golfers hit their golf shots on the LBV course.

 

[nocruisecontrol]

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. It was all appreciated. To those (Jean and abeyst) that recommended OKW - that is what finally came through. We're still wait listed at BLT.

I really didn't have an issue with SSR as a resort and was thinking that the ability to walk over to to downtown Disney was going to be a great perk, I was truly concerned with the space for toddlers, infants and pack and plays.

So now they have switched us to OKW and I'm feeling better about it. I'm still disappointed that my daughter won't get to experience BLT prior to buying but it will all work.

This has all been an educational experience for me! I thought I understood how it all worked but you never really get it until you have to try and change something. I am sure I read it, but I didn't know that you are taken off the wait list 31 days prior to your vacation - which means we were on the wait list for like a week? It was my daughter (not the one who is buying) that figured that out and helped me get us switched over to OKW.

So we'll see what the experience is like at OKW and have to save the Saratoga Springs experience for another trip when we don't have twin 5 month olds, a 1 year old, and a two year old along. The two that generally go down each trip (a nine year old and the one year old) are fine no matter where we stay.

Thanks again.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Enjoy yourselves and remember that what's most important is the time you spend with your loved ones and DVC doesn't have a bad resort in the bunch! If not BLT or SSR this time, then next time, that's the beauty of DVC, you have all of those years ahead to enjoy!

Sometimes we stress ourselves out trying to make what we deem our idea of perfect is when in the end, going with the flow is what's best! You didn't make a mistake, I hope you'll love OKW as much as we do, and when you finally get to SSR, you'll see that, just as every DVC resort, it has some wonderful things to offer!

 

[MiaSRN62]

that the ability to walk over to to downtown Disney was going to be a great perk,

I'm all for SSR being close to Downtown Disney....but, not every area at SSR is really that "close".
The lower right corner , section "F" is Congress Park. It is the closest to DD I believe and I ALWAYS request it (though I don't always get it). Here's the resort map : http://allears.net/acc/saratogamap.jpg
SSR is HUGE. The ability to walk to DD is definitely there...but some of the walks will be quite a hike especially with little ones and/or carrying souvenirs back to your room. Just something to take into account when making plans or decisions.

but I didn't know that you are taken off the wait list 31 days prior to your vacation -

Hope I'm understanding you correctly ? But we are taken off the waitlist 7 days prior to our vacation. Or maybe you are saying something else ?

Have a great time at OKW !

 

[jekjones1558]

but I didn't know that you are taken off the wait list 31 days prior to your vacation

You can request MS to keep you on the waitlist until 7 days out. One caution is that if your waitlisted reservation takes fewer points than your already booked reservation, the extra points go into holding. But if the waitlist takes more or an equal number of points, then there is really no reason not to stay on the waitlist. Inside of 7 days you can still keep calling MS to see if your desired reservation becomes available.
I think that you will be very impressed with the size of the OKW units. Have a magical trip!

 

[karebear06]

Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. It was all appreciated. To those (Jean and abeyst) that recommended OKW - that is what finally came through. We're still wait listed at BLT.

I really didn't have an issue with SSR as a resort and was thinking that the ability to walk over to to downtown Disney was going to be a great perk, I was truly concerned with the space for toddlers, infants and pack and plays.

So now they have switched us to OKW and I'm feeling better about it. I'm still disappointed that my daughter won't get to experience BLT prior to buying but it will all work.

This has all been an educational experience for me! I thought I understood how it all worked but you never really get it until you have to try and change something. I am sure I read it, but I didn't know that you are taken off the wait list 31 days prior to your vacation - which means we were on the wait list for like a week? It was my daughter (not the one who is buying) that figured that out and helped me get us switched over to OKW.

So we'll see what the experience is like at OKW and have to save the Saratoga Springs experience for another trip when we don't have twin 5 month olds, a 1 year old, and a two year old along. The two that generally go down each trip (a nine year old and the one year old) are fine no matter where we stay.

Thanks again.

I love OKW. It is one of my favorites.

 

[CHICKENLEG]

We stayed @ SSR a few years back, and every morning we would come out to wet paint signs all over the place & they had Stitch pawprints on them. One morning, since I am NOT a graceful princess, I tripped over my own feet and sailed right towards a railing with the wet paint sign on it. It was dry as a bone. Nothing with the wet paint sign on it was wet. Did I tell anyone else? Nope. The next morning I 'left' my hat in the room & ran back. I snitched a Stitch sign & hung it on a cabinet in our room. My niece was OVERJOYED that Stitch had painted in her room!

 

[edk35]

I haven't read all of the replies but I would request Grand Stand. They are the first to be picked up going to the parks and the first to drop off on the way back. This would be perfect for the ages of the kids. You will LOVE SSR. BLT is convenient to MK and the monorail to EC but SSR is a very nice resort too. I am happy staying at ANY DVC resort if it means a trip to DISNEY.